The Masterclass titled “From Suckle to Spoon: Mastering Feeding and Swallowing Disorders in Clinical Practise” was conducted on 27^th February 2026 at the Seminar Hall, FMC. This masterclass was conducted with the objectives of enhancing clinical knowledge and practical competencies in the assessment and management of feeding and swallowing disorders across neonates and adults. The target audience for this masterclass was 2nd- and 3rd-year UG students, 1st- and 2nd-year MSc SLP students, and the SLP faculty.

Session 1 commenced with the topic “Onco-dysphagia: From Disease Onset through Treatment and Survivorship” conducted by Dr Janet Varghese. The first session focused on dysphagia resulting from structural and functional changes following treatment for head and neck cancers. The session also highlighted the importance of early referral, assessment of dysphagia in Head and Neck cancer patients and the course of medical treatment that patients undergo during their hospitalisation.

The second session was conducted by Dr Deepthi KJ, who spoke on the topic “Early Markers of Neonatal Dysphagia”. This session addressed the identification of early warning signs of feeding and swallowing difficulties in neonates, particularly in high-risk populations such as preterm infants, low birth weight infants, and neonates with neurological compromise. The third session was conducted by Dr Janet Varghese, who spoke on the topic “Rebuilding the Swallow: Management of Dysphagia in Head and Neck Cancer”. The session highlighted the importance of early referral, prophylactic swallowing exercises, and long-term follow-up care. The program was supervised by Prof. Cynthia Santhmayor, Principal, FMC and was organised by Dr Calida Frieda Pinto, Assistant Professor, Unit of SLP.